Hydraulic leveling and moving device



' Jan; 1s, 1927.

G, E. TURNER HYDRAULIC LEVELING VAND hkiOVING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A 1615055 Jan. 18, G. E' TURNER f s IYDRAULIC LEVELING AND MOVING DEVICE FledJan. 5, 1926 Y 2 Sheets-Shui', 2

Attorneys Patented an. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGEE. TURNER, OF NEW LEXINGTON, OHIO.

HYDRAULIC LEVELING AND MOVING DEVICE.

Application led January This improvement relates to dredges, excavating and similar machines, and pharticularly those employing large revolving shovels which are required to be moved, wherein it is also desirable that leveling mechanism be employed. y

An object of this invention is to devise hydraulic moving and leveling mechanism suitable for heavy types of machines such as dredges, mining machines and similar appli ances employing heavy shovels or similar devices. There is illustrated and described herein a machine with a stationary circular base having an upper circular revolving portion, such that the strains and stresses are evenly distributed around the circular part,

yand the hydraulic moving and leveling mechanism is so constructed and arranged that the machine can be moved with a minimum of labor and expense and with a minimum of risk and in an improved manner.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation view, some of the parts at the left side being shown in section, and Fig. 2 is a plane view, some of the parts being removed to show more clearly the remainder of the parts.

The stationary circular base is marked A (see Fig. l) and the revolving circular member is marked B and this revolving member B is supported by the stationary base through the instrumentality of a ring'menn ber C, there being shown rollers partly around the ring member and these rollers are preferably continuously placed around the ring member and in close relation so as to support the revolving member B evenly throughout its circumference. At the left hand side of Fig. l there is shown in section a rail X of circular shape secured to the upper revolving member B and a circular rail lV secured to the lower stationary member A, and the rollers of the ring member C are located between those two rails so that the rolls or wheels will rotate with a minimum of friction as indicated in Fig. 1. The parts A and B are formed of heavy rolled plates and angles braced and held in place by horizontal beams D and radial beams E, and segmental plates F (see Fig. 2). The circular revolving member B may preferably have a rectangular extension indicated by V (see Fig. 1) to accommodate a part of the operating mechanism and to carry ballast when necessary to give balance to the revolving part of the shovel machine, and at the'` 5, 1926. Serial No. 79,439.

center of the stationary and revolving member there is shown a large pintle or casting G (see Fig. 2) and a corresponding pintle or casting may be secured to the stationary base and these twoparts interlocked in any ordinary way-to permit the member B to revolve 'upon an axis projecting from the member A and these two parts, A and B, are preferably held at all times together and in the same circular relation one to the other. These circular frames avoid the stresses and strains which have heretoforeresulted from' forming the base member and therevolving member with right angle connections and joints that are subject to defects due to the loosening and shearing of the rivets. In this circular type it will be apparentrthat the rails W and X `are at all places and throughout their entire length or circumference directly over or under and in line with .the center of the web sections of the circular framesand this construction is cal- Y culated to distribute the weight much more uniformly over all the rollers on which the upper parts revolve than has heretofore been possible. v

Attached to the lower circular stationary base A and on the outside thereof are 'a plurality of heavy hydraulic jacks, in this case there being shown six jacks in all, and two of these jacks marked H are inthe line of direction of the movement of the machine, being placed on a central line through the base A, one being placed directly opposite the other. The cylinders of jacks H contain rams or plungers fitted in the ordinary way with packing leathers and of such size and area that when thrust downwardly by oil or other iiuid supplied yby a high pressure pump, they will raise or support -theentire Yweight vof the machine, and this operation of raising the entire machine by means of a high pressure pump is only necessary when the entire mechanism assumes a position such that it requires the machine to be raised as hereinafter more fully `explained. There is illustrated herein four auxiliary hydraulic jacks marked I, which are similar to the main jacks H, and 'these auxiliary jacks are also provided with plungers and leatherV packing, and these jacks are not so large as the main jacks, but are of sufficient size to support the entire weight of the machine by means of oil or other fluid which may be fed to thefjacks, and this oil or uid may be fed to them by .i si

means of the same or another pressure pump as that furnishing oil or fluid to the main jacks, but there is preferably illustrated herein a separate tank associated with the auxiliary jacks, and the oil or fluid from said tank is fed by gravity to the auxiliary jacks, these tanks being marked J (see Fig. 2). The fluid passes by gravity from said tanks J through pipes O and O, and check valves P and P tothe spaces in the cylinders above the rams or plungers, keeping these spaces full at all times, and the tanks are of such size as to hold suflicient fluid to fill entirely the auxiliary jacks I whenever the rams or plungers are fully extended; the fiuid passing to the auxiliary cylinders cannot return to the tanks J except through the valves Gr-I, which are located in a bypass in the pipe lines O and O (see Fig. l), and the arrangement is such that these valves are intermittently operated to enable vthe weight of the machine to be shifted to the auxiliary jacks when it is desired to shift the supporting pads for the main jacks as hereinafter more fully described.

In a general way it is to be understood that normally the weight or load of the entire mechanism is evenly supported by the main andauxiliary jacks and this condition obtains when the machine is being operated in a normal way. When, however, it is desired to advance the machine to a better position for normal operation, the machine travels on the pads of the main hydraulic jacks, and during that movement the entire weight of the machine is shifted to the main 'hydraulic jacks, the auxiliary jacks having to be relieved from the weight of the load so that the auxiliary jacks and pads can travel with the travel of the machine, but when it becomes necessary to advance the machine in order to change its working position, the entire weight of the machine is E then shifted to the auxiliary jacks and the main jacks are thereby relieved of the weight or load, and while the main-jacks are thus relieved of the weight or load, the pads associated with the. main jacks are advanced to a new position so that the machine can thereby be readily moved from place to place without the expense and labor incident to tearing up the tracks and replacing the same as heretofore commonly done.

With this explanation it will be seen that A there .is employed a pressure pump marked L (see Fig. l), which is placed on the top of the upper revolving member B, and that it puts iiuid under pressure from the supply tank K andsupplies saine to the main jacks H and H through the pipe Y, which extends downwardly as indicated in Fig. l,

`and this pressure pump is also operated whenever it is necessary to raise the entire `mechanism in order to overcome difficulties due to the fact that the plungers of the aux! iliary jacks may become completely extended so that no further movement can be made by those plungers until the entire machine isv raised. The pipe Z is shown connected to the pipe Y, and this pipe extends through a larger downwardly extending pipe marked X, which serves to return the iuid as hereinafter more fully explained. The plungers or rams in the main cylinders rest in sockets in the upper or top side of the truck frame Q, and attached to the under side of these truck frames Q are shown horizontally disposed cylinders marked T, which have piston rods projecting through each end of the cylinders, the ends of the pistons being secured to the pads M, which rest upon the ground, and these are large heavy track pads or platforms made preferably of wood and steel on which the trucks Q connected with the main acks H travel, there being stops S (see Figs. l and 2) which limit the travel of the truck frames Q upon the pads, and there are preferably shown wheels R which travel upon the rails S, which are in turn secured to the truck pads M, and there are restraining or guard rails S which, together with the stops S, prevent the trucks from leaving the pads, or from traveling on any other than a straight line.

The pads N are square or rectangular bearing pads made preferably of wood and steel with socket castings in which the rams or plungers of the auxiliary jacks I rest, and these pads are shown loosely shackled in an ordinary and usual way to the rams or plungers so thatv the pads may be moved forward or backward with the movement of the machine, and yet always held against the rams or plunger-s.

Referring to the pipe line connections for the fluid from the supply tank K, it will be seen that the lower end of the pipe Y is secured to branch pipes Y', which extend forwardly and rearwardly from a central point, and the vertical pipe X is connected to forward-lyk and rearwardly extending pipes X.H.-Ait the'lower ends of the vertical pipes Y and Z and at the upper ends thereof there are shown flexible turning joints in order to accomodate the parts to the turning motion incident to the character of the machine. The branch pipes Y extend to special operating valves C, and through branch pipes marked B (see Fig. l), andk also to the operating valves A', which control the fiow of the fluid to the main hydraulic jacks. rlhrough the valves C fiuid under pressure is passed to either end of the horizontally disposed cylinders T attached to the under side of the trucks Q, and these cylinders l are at all times full of fiuid and when fluid is allowed to enter one end or at one side of the pistons an equal quantity of fluid escapes or is exhausted from the opposite end zov connections are made from this pipe to the pump side of the pressure pump and connections are made from thepump tothe pipe line Y so that when the entire mechanism is to be raised the pump can be operated to force the fluid into'the cylinders of the main jacks, thereby raising the entire machine, and by means of this pump suliicient pressure can be maintained to insure the oil or fluid flowing properly to the main jacks H and the horizontally mounted jacks T.

`Likewise, fluid under pressure, will pass through the valves A into the main jack cylinders "H, and when released from the cylinders the fluid will pass through the valves A and be returned to the tank through the pipes X and X', and at the forward ends of the pipes Y and X are placed flexible connections, or what is commonly known as walking joints indicated by V, such connections being necessary on account of the relative movement that occurs between the circular base A and the track pads M, whenever the circular base A is raised or lowered by means of the `jacks H.

To illustratethe operation of this mechanism, it will be assumed that the machine is operating and the bucket of the shovel is engaged' in excavating,'carrying or casting earth or other material and during this operation the base A and attached parts are stationary. The valves which are shown as controlling the inlet or outlet of fluid to and from the jacks are therefore closed, so that no fluid can escape and in this position of the valves the entire weight of the machine is carried on allthe jacks in an approximately level plane, thus distributing the total weight over a large area, and giving the maximum stability to the machine. Now, if it is desired to move the shovel forward or closer to the material being excavated, thev bucket is first brought to'rest on the ground or material being excavated, with its handle in a vertical position and on a circular line coincident with the line of travel, thus bringing the center of gravity at or very nearly through the true center of the circular base A, materially reducing the weight on the truck frames and jacks. The valves G in the bypass pipe leading around the check valves lD are then opened, thereby relieving the auxiliary jacks I from the weight of the machine and thereby shifting the weight entirely on the main jacks H, it being understood that the check valves P permit the fluid to travel to the auxiliary jacks but prevent same returning to the supply tank J, which can only occur when the valves Gr are operated. It is also to be understood that the parts forwardly and rearwardly of the center of the machine are substantially duplicates one of the other, so that in explaining what happens rearwardly of the center it is to be understood the same operation will occur when corresponding parts are operated. Either one or bot-h of the valves C are then open, letting the fluid under pressure pass from the pump L into the yforward end orv ends' of the cylinders T, which thereby propels the cylinders and the truck frames to which they are attached forwardly toward the ends of the track pads, to which the piston stem or stems are attached at UU, thus carrying the machine forward and bringing the same to a position where the bucket will by closer to the material to be excavated, and manifestly, when fluid under pressure lis entering the front end of these cylinders T, the fluid in the other end will escape through proper passages in the valves C to the return pipe or pipes X and X', returning thereby to the supply tank K.

W hen the machine has thus been moved forward to such an extent that the wheels have come to rest against the stops S (Figure 1), thereby resulting in the machine reaching the limit of its normal travel, it becomes necessary to move or shift the track pads M to a different position, in order to adapt the machine for further normal moven ment, and to accomplish this movement of the pads M, the valves G in the bypass pipes are closed and the valves A (Fig. 2) are then opened, and when this is done the entire weight of the machine is shifted toi* the auxiliary jacks l, the jacks H having been relieved from the load or weight, and

this also applies to the track pads N which will now merely support the weight of the truck frames Q. hle the machine is supported in this manner, the valves C are again opened, but in the opposite direction, letting fluid under pressure into the rear en d of the horizontal cylinder T, permitting it to escape from the forward ends, and Vunder this condition the track pads will be pulled forwardly by the rearwardly extending pistion stems until the rear stops engage the rear wheels R ofl a truck frame Q. The valves C are now closed or set at neutral position, while the valves A are also closed so that no fluid can escape from the main jacks H and the weight is once moreevenly distributed because the mechanism is supported on all the jacks and excavation with the bucket is then resumed.

It is apparent that in the continual operation of this manner of shifting the weight from the jacks H to the jacks I, and from the jacks I to the jacks H, there is apt to come a time when the escape of oil from the cylinders will allowV the rains or plungers to engage the tops of the cylinders, then the pump L will be put into operation and oil 0r fluid Will be fed to the main jacks H through the valves A, thus lifting the entire machine, and While the machine is being raised the auxiliary jacks l will automatically be supplied or filled with fluid by gravity from the tanks J. It is to beI understood that various modifications might be suggested illustrating the general principle of operation, and it is not intended to limit the invention to any particular location of the valves, nor to any particular manner of grouping or coupling them together, nor any particular Way ol' manipulating the parts.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

l. In a machine o'f the character described, a shovel frame with main supporting pads, tracks on said pads, elevating devices above said main pads, carrying Wheels connected with said elevating means adapted to run on said tracks, suplemental pads, elevating devices for said supplemental pads, means for operating the main elevating devices thereby relieving the supplemental devices from the Weight oi the shovel trame. means for operating the supplemental elevating devices for relieving the main pads ot the Weight of the shovel trame, means for moving the main pads While the shovel trame is supported by the supplemental pads.

2. ln a machine ot the character specified, a shovel frame with main supporting pads placed in line oi movement ot' said trame, supplemental supporting pads placed at the sides of the machine, elevating devices above said main pads and supplemental elevating devices above said sunplemental pads, carrying Wheels connected with said first mentioned elevating devices, hydraulic means tor operating said first mentioned elevating devices thereby relieving the supplemental devices ot the Weight. ot the shovel trame, hydraulic means for operating the supple- 'mental elevating` devices. thereby relieving the main pads of: the weight ot the shovel irame and hydraulic means for moving the main pads While the Weight ot said shovel trame is carried by the supplemental pads.

3. 1n a machine ot the character specified,

a shovel frame, main pads with tracks thereon placed in the line of movement of said shovel frame, carrying Wheels adapted to run on said tracks, main elevating devices connected with said Wheels, supplemental pads for supporting the shovel trame placed at the sides of the machine, elevating devices associated with said supplemental pads, whereby the Weight o'll the shovel trame may be supported by all the pads, hydraulic means for operating the main elevating devices tor relieving t-he supplemental pads of the weight oit' the shovel frame, whereby the carrying Wheels may carry the shovel trame along said tracks, hydraulic means Jfor operating the supplemental elevating devices for raising the shovel trame and thereby relievingthe main pads from the Weight o'f the shovel trame, hydraulicl means for moving the main pads while the suppleinental padsfsupport the Weight ol: the shovel frame. i

1l. In a machine ot thel character specified, a shovel irame, main pads with tracks thereon placed in the line ot n'iovement of said shovel trame. carrying wheels adapted to run on said tracks, main elevating devices connected with said wheels, supplemental pads i'or supporting the shovel trame placed at the sides ot' the machine, elevating devices associated with said supplemental pads, whereby the Weight o t the shovel trame may be supported by all the pads, hydraulic means for operating` the main elevating dev'ces for relieving` the supplemental pads of the weight ot the shovel trame, whereby the carrying wheels may carry the shovel trame along said tracks, hydraulic means for operating the supplemental elevating devices tor raising the shovel frame and thereby relieving the main pads from the Weight ofc the shovel l'rame, hydraulic means for moving` the main pads while the supplemental pads support the weight ot' the shovel frame, pressure devices Yfor restoring the supplemental elevating devices to normal position at predetermined times.

ln testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day ot December, 1025.

VGEORGE E. TUPNER. 

